Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-07-08
THE LATE JUDGE POLAND.

Luke L. Poland was born IN W eStfOrd.
November |, lSl5. He enjoyed only a
common school education. one term in
an academy and part of another being
the extent of his venture beyond the
district schools: he then read law. and
on coming of age was admitted to the
bar of Lamoile county on the first day
the court was ever held in that county.
He began to practice at Morrisvlle. and
soon demonstrated his ability as a lawyer.
He was register of probate in 1889 and
1910, member of the State constitutional
convention in lS43. county prosecuting
attorney in 1914 and 1915. Then in 1913
he was elected fifth associate justice of
the supreme court, and with the estab-
lishnent of circuit court in 1850 he was
made a Judge on that bench. which posi-
ton he occupied continuously until the
re-establishment of the supreme court in
1857, when he was elected second asso-
ciate Justice. and in 1850 succeeded to a
chief justiceship Of that tribunal. He
sat for ! : years in the highest court Of
Vermont, for the last five ycara being
at its head.
When Jacob Collamer. Nermont's diss
tingui>hed United States senator, died in
| 1868. Judge Poland was selected by Gov.
Dillingham; to fill the vacancy, and the
| IL .
but Justin 5. Morrill, was chosen senator
for the new term. beginning in 1867.
Judge Poland was, however. elected to
10th, 4lst. 42d and 43d Congresses from
the "a district and in 1852 to the 18th
Congress. AT the expiration of his term he
declined reelection. He was a conspic-
uous member of congress and did some
admirable things that are worth recalling.
During Grants second administration
in the early part of lS73-when the pub
lie mind was largly occupied with con-
gressional scandals. Judge Poland came
to the front as the head Of the committee
to investigate the Credit Mobiler affair.
He conducted the thorough inquiry which
followed with notable ability. He was
also prominent in opposing Buffers fa-
nous salary grab. The following yeal
he was at the head of the committee on
Arkansas affairs, when the effort wa,
made at Washington to sustain Senator,
Dorsey and Clayton against the wishes OF
the people of that State: and soon after the
famous Force bill" was brought forward
in an attempt to spread over the whole
South the policy which was failure il
Arkansas. In 1875 Gen Grant declined
to send federal troops to Mississippi. thus
abandoning the policy which the "Forct
Dlll iltll Dtcll Dttll lHlclucu " pei
ate, and vindicating the position of Po
land and the others. Judge Poland head
ed the Vermont delegation in the Repub
lican national convention of 1876, ant
presented the name of Mr.. Wheeler tC
the convention as the man to be nominat
ed for vice-president with Gov. Hayes.
He had removed his residence from
Morrisville to st. Johnsbury in 1850, ant
after his retirement from Congress re
sumed the law, having an extensive prac
tice and combining with it the duties o
president of the First national bank o.
that place. He was sent to the Legisla
, ture in 1873, where he was leader of the
House. Two years ago he bought til,
old family homestead and moved tow ater
vile, where death overlook him. He rep
resented that town in the last legislature
: He was always influential in the affair
of his county.
Judge Poland enjoyed good health VI
to last winter, when he was seriously i'll
Since that time he had been less vigorous
physically than before. On Saturda,
2 last he seemed to be feeling bette
than usual. Going into the country stor
near his home he bought wide-brimme'
straw hat, which he said he intended t.
wear in the bayfield,. He went into tn
e barn, got upon the NOW to assist in dis
q posing of load of hay and almost i'm
mediately sank down and died. Hear
i disease is supposed to have been tn
0 trouble.